Book Reviews: Into the Water, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Final Girls

This group of books was mailed to me from a friend who had the idea of a book exchange. We have started mailing books we’ve read back and forth. It was a great idea because I got to read 3 books I enjoyed and probably would not have otherwise read.

 

Into the Water by Paula Hawkins

Nel was a single mother found dead at the bottom of cliff by a river. Historically many woman before Nel had met the same fate at this same spot. Locally it is known as the Drowning Pool. In life Nel was obsessed with and even writing book about the Drowning Pool. Most believe Nel to have jumped, but her sister doubts that assumption. Questions and answers about the Drowning Pool and the deaths that have occurred there unfold as the story is told through perspectives of various townspeople.

By the middle I had everyone straight, but the number of characters the point of view is told from was large and at times confusing. There were a few parts I had to flip back to remember who someone was. The ending also felt a bit anticlimactic. Even so, I still very much enjoyed Into the Water. The formatting of the chapters had me wanting to continue onto the next as soon as I finished one.

 

Final Girls: A Novel by Riley Sager

Final Girls is a phrase the media came up with to refer to a group of 3 females that were the lone survivors of separate, violent mass murders. Lisa was the positive Final Girl, always trying to help other survivors and being cooperative with the media. Quincy has moved on with her life and has no memory of the events the night her college friends were all killed in a cabin getaway. Sam has always been the recluse, wanting to live her life away from any attention. That is until Lisa is found dead.

Then Sam reaches out to unite with Quincy. They are now the only 2 living Final Girls. Sam attempts to make Quincy remember the events of the night she has blocked out. Quincy is left to wonder what happened to Lisa and what Sam’s motives are.

This book is 100% okay. I was able to guess one or two of twists and think the post-conclusion wrap up could have been stronger. I did enjoy reading this too though. Maybe not as much as Into the Water, but it’s another decent thriller.

 

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Monique is a mid-level writer on the brink of a going through a divorce. Evelyn Hugo is an old Hollywood actress and icon with a lifetime of achievements and string of ex-husbands. Evelyn won’t give a reason why she has reached out to Monique to write her tell all autobiography, and Monique does not want to pass up the chance to write a guaranteed best seller. The pair begin a working relationship where we learn a lot about Evelyn, a little about Monique, and eventually what connects the two.

This book was a lovely surprise. I wasn’t expecting to like it as much as I did. It had some substance. It had some grit. I had a difficult time putting it down (and may have stayed up too late a few nights in a row). It was an interesting departure from my recent thriller reads.

If you’ve read any of these I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments. Also tell me about what you are reading now. Anything good?

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